An expertly devised three-step routine to treat teenage acne, spots and breakouts

Is your teenager struggling with their confidence due to acne? Teenage acne can be a challenging and frustrating issue, but it’s a common condition that affects many young people due, in part, to hormonal changes during puberty. Thankfully, the good news is that there are solutions available to help manage it.

With the help of the UK’s number one acne treatment brand, Acnecide, we’ve come up with a simple, three-step routine that your teen can follow to help prevent breakouts and keep their acne under control. By implementing a daily routine, your teenager can help prevent new spots from forming and avoid the negative impact the skin condition can have on their self-esteem.

During puberty, your teen’s hormone levels rise, causing their skin to produce more oil (aka sebum), which can lead to whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and painful cysts on their face, chest, and shoulders. But with this expertly devised three-step routine, your teen can take control of their skin and feel confident in their appearance.

Read on to discover the steps your teenager should be taking to help prevent acne and keep spots under control.

Step one: cleanse

This is the first step to any skincare routine. For spot-prone skin, it is important to wash your face and neck every day - both morning and night - with a gentle cleanser to remove excess oil from your skin.

Look for a cleanser that won’t dry out or irritate your skin. A good cleanser will help remove dead skin cells, dirt and traces of makeup to help prepare your skin for the next step in your routine, whether it’s an acne treatment or moisturiser.

If your teen is using other products with an exfoliant effect, make sure they clean their face with a gentle cleanser, like the Purifide Daily Cleanser, which contains glycerin to hydrate and liquorice root and zinc to soothe skin.

Step two: treat it

While Salicylic Acid penetrates the pores to get rid of the dirt and grime, Benzoyl Peroxide kills the bacteria that causes acne. This is why some of the best over-the-counter acne products contain this ingredient.

You can get treatments containing 5% Benzoyl Peroxide without a prescription from Acnecide, but you should take your teen to see the GP or pharmacist should they need to be recommended something stronger. This could be in the form of a face wash or a gel, but make sure not to double up on products as it can irritate and dry out the skin.

Acnecide products contain 5% Benzoyl Peroxide and kill up to 95% of spot-causing bacteria in one week, helping to prevent breakouts and reduce blackheads and whiteheads. There are two treatments available for mild acne: the Acnecide Face Gel, which you can apply and leave on affected areas, or the Acnecide Face Wash Gel, which you apply to cleansed skin and then wash off after a few minutes.

It is recommended that you start using Acnecide products every other day to begin with and build up to using it once or twice a day. Bear in mind, Benzoyl Peroxide may not be suitable for people with sensitive skin and it can take up to four weeks to start working.

Step three: moisturise

The final step in your teen’s skincare routine should be to hydrate, soothe and protect their skin. Some treatments can leave the skin irritated and dry, which can lead to further breakouts. So, after your teen has cleansed and treated their skin, they should use a lightweight moisturiser to keep the skin feeling hydrated.

Some people think that sun exposure can help spots, but it can actually cause it to become dry and sore, which may lead to your skin producing more oil and making acne worse. So make sure to look for a day moisturiser that contains an SPF of at least 30. Exposure to UV during a breakout can also cause post-breakout dark marks and uneven skin tone so this will help prevent further damage while maintaining and protecting the skin during treatment.

Also, look for a moisturiser that contains ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide or other soothing ingredients and one that is non-comedogenic, which means that it won’t clog pores. In the morning, your teen could use a moisturiser like Purifide Daily Moisturiser SPF30, which contains glycerin, licorice root extract and allantoin to hydrate, soothe and protect skin.

Night-time is when the skin regenerates and heals so in the evening, using a rebalancing moisturiser like the Purifide Microbiome Equalizer Moisturiser will help to hydrate, replenish, and sooth their skin while they sleep. Not only can it be used regularly to support the balance of their skin’s barrier, but it is also suitable to use during active breakouts alongside their usual skin treatments during the day.

Common acne stigmas

Acne is very common in teenagers yet the skin condition still carries a lot of stigma. Having spots and being left with scarring can hugely affect their self-confidence and self esteem. Myths about acne being caused by a poor diet, such as eating too much chocolate, and bad hygiene don’t help, when in fact most of the biological reactions that trigger acne occur beneath the surface.

Helping your teen to accept it and understand that acne isn’t their fault and it won’t last forever can really help. Sticking to a good daily skincare routine can make a big difference and will help prevent spots from recurring in the long term.

If your teen has moderate or severe acne or develops nodules or cysts, consult your GP as it may need an advanced treatment option to avoid scarring.

About Acnecide + Purifide

Experts Acnecide + Purifide have curated a range of skincare products and effective treatments that cover a wide spectrum of acne, spot, and blemish prone skin types and goals. Whether you’re looking for something that can tackle the challenge of recurring or active breakouts, or you just want to keep on top of occasional spots and blemishes to maintain your skin clearer for long, Acnecide + Purifide have you covered.

GB-ACC-2300048 May 2023 / Acnecide Face Gel and Acnecide Face Wash Gel are indicated for the treatment of mild facial acne. Both contain 5% benzoyl peroxide. Always read the label.